This week in Indiana’s history …
1892 – First Lady Caroline Harrison, wife of President Benjamin Harrison, died of tuberculosis at the White House. A gracious hostess, she also oversaw extensive renovations at the Executive Mansion, including new floors, new plumbing, and the installation of electricity. She had also served as the first President General of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Funeral services were held in Washington and Indianapolis before burial at Crown Hill Cemetery.
1928 – The Madonna of the Trail monument was dedicated in Wayne County. The statue honors pioneer mothers of the covered wagon days. It is one of 12 identical statues placed in each state along the old National Trail Road, which extends from Maryland to California. The monument pays tribute to the courage, faith, and strength of women who helped build the nation.
1939 – Joe Louis, the boxing heavyweight champion of the world, went four rounds in an exhibition at the Richmond Coliseum. A local sports reporter said, “Lewis gave the local fans a fine picture of his ring actions, both from the long-range jabbing to close-in fighting.” The crowd of 1,500 gave him a rousing hand at the end of each round.
1950 – Thousands of bells rang throughout Indiana as the state participated in the United Nations worldwide “Message of Freedom” celebration. At the Statehouse, Governor Henry Schricker rang the Liberty Bell replica in the rotunda. Indianapolis Mayor A. G. Feeney held a ceremony at city hall, and church bells rang in cities all around the state.
1963 – The new Indiana state sales tax went into effect. The 2 percent tax on most retail purchases was expected to put $300,000 a day into the state’s depleted treasury. The Indiana Supreme Court ordered the tax into effect after considering challenges to the law. Indiana became the 37th state to implement such a tax.
1976 – Jane Pauley became co-host of NBC’s Today Show. She graduated from Warren Central High School in Indianapolis where she was on the speech and debate teams. At Indiana University, she majored in political science. Before moving to NBC, she was a member of the news departments at WISH in Indianapolis and WMAQ in Chicago.